The Glide

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Like most of the folks that have been attending the YMCA water class for several years, Louise never imagined that she would still be a regular three years later. What was it that moved her to show up every morning? Was it the fact that she had become the teacher’s pet? Perhaps it was the camaraderie? Maybe it was the handsome lifeguards? Was it something else? Could it be as simple as the glide?

“We deserved this. We deserved this. We deserved this. We deserved this.” Louise chanted as she floated on her belly holding her water weights with ease on top of the water. She passed us going the opposite direction with her arms and legs out stretched relaxed. She was doing what our instructor calls, “The Glide.” Louise’s voice was deep and sounded relieved like someone sounds after they have just woken up or were in the throws of an endorphin rush. “Endorphins are released during long, continuous workouts, when the level of intensity is between moderate and high, and breathing is difficult”. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endorphin

She had been pumping her arm weights and ankle weights for nearly two hours. The strenuousness of the last exercise pushed her over her comfort threshold leaving her body flooded with pain easing endorphins. In her case, definitely, these were sighs of relief.

When the Terri the instructor screams, “GLIDE!” the pool mates look like kids being told it’s time for recess. Even if the mate had been doing the exercises in their sleep, or if they had been working hard groaning and grunting they seem to find herculean strength when they hear the word "glide".
They sprint to the side of the pool, grab their arm weights, find some open water, fall forward on the surface of the water and glide. It's Nirvana, a state of being free from suffering. 

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